HELP:Does replacing pickups in a guitar decrease its value?

[HandsomeDevil]

Last week I won an auction for a Rick 650S sierra, now I've just received an e-mail where the seller says that he noticed that one of the pickups is dead so he have just ordered a replacement one from Rick and he wants to know if it's ok with me.

considered that I have paid 1000$ for it, even if I'm not ever likely going to sell it, do you think this will affect the value of the guitar?

should I just go on, ask for a discount or drop it?

thanks in advance!

[kiramdear]

For this model I'd expect that a factory replacement nicely installed should not decrease its value. It's a player's guitar, already used, and its value should be secure even with a new pickup.

If I had won, and I liked the guitar, I'd go ahead and let him make the repair. It's still worth a grand in good condition, I'm guessing. Is this a discontinued model?

[HandsomeDevil]

yes it is, as far as I know the only 650 still in production is the 650C!

[kiramdear]

That guitar might not be so easy to find later down the road. You can always ask for a discount anyway, and you may be in a position to get it. But if he says no, I wouldn't let that break the deal. Never hurts to ask, though.

[HandsomeDevil]

one can always try.

anyway I'm just wondering how realistically can be the amount of the decreased value for that issue.

and, in relation to that, ask for a fair discount eventually.

[kiramdear]

That's a good question. I might go on ebay and look at some 650s at the lower-priced end of things there. I'm no expert on these models. Then again, I wouldn't want to insult him if the guitar is otherwise in good condition, as he is already offering to make the repair at his expense.

[HandsomeDevil]

sure, he's been honest to warn me already...anyway I guess the question is no easy to answer, just hope to find a wise way to work it out!

[kiramdear]

You might rightfully ask for the damaged pickup; you can have it repaired or rewound for a fairly reasonable price by someone around here. Maybe ask the seller to pay shipping, for your patience.

[ken_j]

The humbucking pickups on the 650 series guitars are potted. There is no repairing them. The good news is that the pickup design has not changed as far as I know. The current production pickups are identical to the originals so I doubt that it would have much of an effect on the value of the instrument. Be happy that it failed before he shipped the guitar. At least he is willing to make it right.

[jingle_jangle]

Just don't put current hi-gains on a '60 Capri...

[Clint]

I think the guitar's worth more with a working, factory replacement pickup than with the original, broken pickup.

[jingle_jangle]

...with some exceptions, of course...

[Clint]

Like John Lennon sweat?

[iiipopes]

Which pickup is "dead," bridge or neck?

[HandsomeDevil]

thank you guys for your answers.

have no idea if it's the bridge or neck one... anyway, as I've stated, the seller has already ordered a new pickup and he had no problem to declare he will pay for the whole operation with no extra costs for me.

I wrote a mail to the Rickenbacker customer service so hopefully I will get soon an authoritative and final opinion to solve the question, by that I will decide if it's the case to ask for a discount or what else would be wise to do...let's just hope they will answer!